UAW halts strike at China-owned US auto plant

More than 3,000 workers at a Chinese-owned auto supplies plant in Saginaw, Michigan returned to work Wednesday after the powerful UAW union halted a strike pending a contract vote.

The United Auto Workers called off the day-long strike at Nexteer Automotive, which builds steering systems for major automakers. The union is preparing a revised tentative contract for a ratification vote, but the date has not been set yet, said UAW spokesman Brian Rothenberg.

Workers began striking Tuesday after overwhelmingly rejecting a first contract proposal and after union negotiators turned down a second proposal from management, according to the UAW.

The dispute centers on pay and health benefits.

Just a day in, the strike began to tie up production at General Motors and threatened other auto makers. GM had begun to curtail work at a pickup truck assembly plant in Flint, Michigan and cancelled a shift at a second truck plant in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as steering column inventories ran down.

Nexteer also works for Fiat Chrysler, Ford and Toyota.